Hammer frame



R. A. KROPP HAMMER FRAME March 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10,1948 4 3 a w fig w 4 jg; 1.. I 0 W. $5 1 32 f March 18, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1948 EVEHYEF R. A. KROPP HAMMER FRAMEMarch 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1948 I? TE" .77 77.72

- A 01 ,4: fiapp $4; 7%

Patented Mar. 18, 1952 HAMMER FRAME Roy A. Kropp, River Forest, 111.,assignor to Kropp Forge Company, Cicero, 111., a corporation of 1Illinois Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 13,989

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hammer frames for steamdrop hammers, or the like, and more specifically concerns frames of thistype which are fabricated by welding together steel parts instead of andas an improvement over the'conventional casting of hammer frames.

An important object of the present invention is to provide in afabricated steam drop hammer frame an improved hammer guide supportingstructure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fabricated steam drophammer frame made from steel plate and an improved mounting in permanentassociation therewith of a hammer track guide supporting structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a steam hammer frameconstruction an improved hammer track arrangement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide-in a steam hammertrack structure improved means for effecting adjustments of the track.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of steam drop hammerframes showing the same in operative relationship and with environmentaldetails of a complete drop hammer assembly shown more or lessschematically.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the hammerframes, in this instance the left hand hammer frame as it appears priorto assembly in the drop hammer organization.

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the hammer frame shown in Fig.2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line IVIVof Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical detail sectional view on an enlargeds'cale takensubstantially on the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the lineVI-VI of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of a modified form ofhammer frame.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially on theline VIII-V1II of Fig. '7.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially onthe line IX-aIX of Fig. 8.

The hammer organization in which the present invention is adapted to beused may, as shown in Fig. 1, comprise a supporting base l5 upon whichare mounted left and right frames l6 and 2 Upon the frames is a tieplate 19 upon which is supported a steam cylinder casting 20, thiscasting and the tie plate is being secured to the tops of the frames asby means of bolts 2!.

Each of the frames 16 and I1 carries a conventional hammer guide 22 forvertically reciprocably guiding a drop hammer 23 carrying a die 24cooperable with a stationary or lower die 25 mounted upon the base 15through the medium of a die anvil or base member 21. The hammer 23 isreciprocated by means of a piston rod 28' having at its upper end apiston 29 driven reciprocably in the cylinder 20 by steam under thecontrol of standard control means 30 appropriately mounted on the framell.

According to the present invention each of the frames 18 and I1 isfabricated from steel plate which may be cold-rolled steel, each of theframes being of substantially the same construction and the descriptionof the details of the structure of one therefore sufiicing for anunderstanding of the details of structure of the other. Therefore, whileFigs. 2-6, inclusive, show various details of structure of the left handside frame [6 of the assembly, it will be understood that the details ofthe right side frame I! correspond substantially identically.

The body of the side frame is constructed of substantially tubular,box-like vertically elongated form and comprises an outer side frameplate 3|, a front plate 32, a rear plate 33, an upper inner side plate34 and a lower inner side plate 35. The outer side plate 3| preferablyextends diagonally downwardly and outwardly to a lower vertical portion31 which is disposed parallel to the lower inner side plate 35 whichextends in a vertical plane. The upper inner side plate 34 also extendsin a vertical plane. The front and rear plates 32 and 33 preferablyextend in generally vertical planes spaced apart. All of the plates aresecured together in an integral, rigid welded structure of generallyboxlike or angular tubular cross section.

The outer side plate 3| is preferably of a relatively heavy gauge steelplate, as is also the lower inner side plate 35, while the front andrear plates 32 and 33 and the upper inner side plate 34 may be oflighter gauge structure.

The lower portion 31 of the outer side plate and the lower inner sideplate. 35 are preferably formed to flare downwardlyv edgewise and.together with the lower edges of the front and rear plates 32 and 33 arewelded fixedly to a relatively heavy bottom plate 38 which is recessedon the bottom as indicated at 39 for efficient seating and 11 secured tothe base asby means of bolts I8. attachment to. the complementary shapedbase 15. Bolt holes 40 formed through the base plate 38 outwardly of thefront and rear plates 32 and 33, respectively, afford passage for theshanks of the attachment bolts [8.

At its upper end, the side frame assembly includes a top plate 4| whichis welded to the upper edges of the outer side plate 3|, the front andrear plates 32 and 33, and the inner upper side plate 34. Bolt holes 42in the upper plate M are receptive of the upper attachment bolts 2!.

Each of the side frames 16 and I1 is equipped with a hammer guidesupporting structure 43 formed of relatively heavy, welded steel plateconstruction. To this end, each of the hammer guide supportingstructures 43 comprises relatively heavy vertical front and rear plates44 and 45 respectively, a fairly heavy vertical back plate 41 having thevertical edges thereof intermediate the back margins of the side platesand permanently and thoroughly welded thereto, and top and bottom plates48* and 49 respectively ,welded between the respective upper and lowermargins of the front and rear plates and to the upper and lower edges ofthe back plate 41.

The rigid hammer guide supporting structure 43 thus constructed isassembled with the body of the side frame set into the inner side of theframe, the front and rear plates 32 and 33 being formed with appropriateangular cut outs |],for receiving and supporting the supportingassembly, the front and rear plates 32 and 33 thus directly supportingthe front and rear plates 44 and 45 of the supporting structure. Thelower edge of the inner upper side plate 34 engages the upper plate 48and the upper edge of the lower inner side plate 35 engages under thebottom plate 49. The assembly thus. effected is permanently and fixedlywelded into a unitary structure.

Additional reinforcement of the assembly is effected by the provision oftriangular gusset or reinforcing plates 5! disposed in vertically spacedseries in spaced horizontal planes at the inner reentrant corners formedby the back of the guide supporting frame 43 and the front and rearplates 32 and 33 respectively (Figs. 4 and 6).

For supporting one. of the hammer guides 22 therein, the guidesupporting structure 43 is formed with finished parallel offset verticalsupporting and guide surfaces 52 on'the front and rear platesv 4,4 and45 and a lower offset finished supporting surface 53, on the bottomplate 49. Thus the hammer guide 22 is slidably adjustable by means of aconventional guide-adjusting wedge 54 (Fig. 1). This wedge is slidablyadjustable between the hammer guide and the finished vertical offset pador surface 55 on the inner side of the back plate 41. Adjustment of thewedge 54 is adapted to be effected by a conventional wedge adjusting nut5'! which is received in a pocket 58 (Figs. 3 and 4) acting on acustomary wedge rod projecting up through a slot 59 in a pocket formingplate 60 spaced below the top plate 48 and welded permanently in placein the recess provided by the front and rear plates 45 and the backplate 41, with tapered front and rear spacer blocks GI and 62 definingthe front and rear of the pocket 58. The plate 58 and the blocks 6| and62 are, of course, all welded in permanent unitary assembly in theguide. sup-1 porting structure. Clearance for the upper end, of thewedge adjusting rod is provided by a slot 63 in the top plate 48. Theusual locking pin for the wedge adjusting nutv 6.2 is accommodated in abore 64 coaxial through the rear plate: 451

and the block 62. It will be observed that the pocket forming plate 58has the lower surface thereof formed with an offset finished hammerguide receiving surface 65.

The back plate 41 has bores 61 at appropriate vertically spacedintervals aligned with bores 68 formed in the outer side plate 3! ofthe. frame for accommodating hammer guide securing bolts 39, appropriatebosses being welded to the outer face of the side plate 3| about theapertures 68 and having vertical faces for receiving the thrust of thesecuring nuts of the bolts 69.

The welded construction thus described for the ticularly advantageousover a cast structure since the steel plates of which the frames areconstructed are capable of withstanding the terrific stresses andstrains incident to operation of the drop hammer 23 and the greatvibrations incident to such operation much better than the conventionalcast frames. The steel plates will not crack, chip or break, they do nothave blow holes such as castings or shrinkage stress areas or flaws. Ifany section, large or small of the assembly should become distorted ordamaged in any way it can be repaired by welding, and generally withoutremoval from the hammer organization.

,It will be noted that the guide-supporting structures or sub-frames areof a relatively mas sive construction and are thus adapted to absorb andwithstand the relatively great shocks attendant upon hammer impact whichis obviously to a very substantial extent concentrated at the hammerguides in addition to the dies which absorb the working impact of thehammer. Vertically directed stresses are efiiciently transmitted to thesupporting plates for the guidesupporting structure or sub-frames in theplanes of the supporting plates which, of course, is their greateststrength. Furthermore outward force on the hammer guide supportingsubframes is efliciently resisted by the main frame plates through theunitary welded assembly and by reason of the transmission of theprincipal force in the planes of the front and rear plates 32 and 33into which the sub-frames are respectively set. In addition to thestrength inherent in the welded assembly of the back-plate 41 of theguide-supporting structure and the supporting plates of theguide-supporting structure, the reinforcing angle plates 5| willtransmit any unusual thrusts against the back plate with whichassociated to the front and rear plates 32 and 33 of the main frame.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the general structureof the side frame remains substantially the same as described inconnection with the side frames l6 and ll, but provision is made for aunique adjustable hammer guide arrangement which entirely'eliminates theconventional vertically adjustable wedge bar or shims and attains a,number of important ad'- vantages over prior constructions. The body ofthe modified frame comprises an outer side wall '33, similar front andrear walls H and 12,- respectively, an. upper inner wall plate section13 and a lower inner wall plate section 14, all of the wall panels beingsecured in unitary, permanent substantially rigid welded assemblyforming a generally box-like or tubular cross section, similarly as inthe case of the frames l3 and I? already described.

In the modificatiom the hammer guide sup-- porting structure is alsosubstantially the same as in the previously described forms of sideframes for the drop hammer assembly, comprising relatively massive sideplates I5 and I1 which are set into respective angular cut outs I8therefor in the front and rear plates II and I2. The back plate I9 isdisposed edgewise between the margins of the side plates I5 and I1 andis short enough to engage at its upper and lower ends with upper andlower plates 80, and 8 I, respectively, which as best seen in Fig. 7extend edgewise between the upper and lower margins of the side platesI5 and I1. Thrust reinforcement for the back plate I9 and the adjacentback edges of the side plates 15 and TI is afforded by horizontalgenerally rectangular bracket or gusset plates 82 disposed at thereentrant corners afforded by the inner surfaces of the front and rearwall plates II and I2 and the back of the hammer guide supporting unit.

All of the several parts of the hammer guidesupporting unit are, ofcourse, welded into a unitary assembly and welded into unitary assemblywith the body of the frame.

A novel form of hammer track or guide 83 is accommodated by the modifiedguide-supporting structure for adjustment in a novel manner byretraction or protraction relative to the guidesupporting structure. Tothis end, the hammer guide 83 has a more or less conventional groovedhammer track or guide face 84 and parallel substantially finishedbearing side faces 85 which engage with raised or offset parallelbearing pads 88 formed on the opposing inner faces of the side walls 15and 11 of the track-supporting structure. In this way the track member83 can be slidably protracted or retracted for adjustment between theside plate members I5 and 1 Instead of the customary wedge bar foreffecting such adjustment of the hammer track or guide 83,

the present invention provides upper and lower vided by the enlargedbody portion of the bolts r 81 and 81' at the base of the reduceddiameter.

inner end portion 88 provides a thrust shoulder for the back of theguide member 83 and may, if desired, be set into a counterbore 92 aboutthe back end of the bolt passage bore 89.

Respective clearance apertures 93 are provided in the back plate I9 forthe bolts 81 and 81.

At their respective outer end portions, the bolts 81 and 81' areprovided with means for effecting and retaining adjusted conditions ofthe bolts. To this end each of the bolts may be formed with a reduceddiameter threaded portion 94 extending through a thrust bracket 95. Eachof the brackets 95 is preferably formed as a relatively heavy gauge,generally U-shaped member having oppositely extending lateral flanges 91at the extremities of the leg portions thereof, and disposed with theleg portions in vertical planes projecting through respective apertures98 provided therefor in the back plate I0 and having the flanges 9'Iengaging the inner face of the back plate in thrust relation at theopposite sides of the, aperture 98. To facilitate assembly, the aperture98, in each instance, is preferably long enough in a vertical directionto permit assembly therethrough of the thrust bracket 95' when turned 90around with the flanges 97 extending up and down and the bracket, afterreception entirely within the tubular chamber provided interiorly of theframe structure, being then turned to proper assembly position andprojected through the aperture 98 until the flanges 91 engage the sidewall plate I0. The bracket 95 is then welded in place permanently. Acompression block or panel 99 is preferably welded between the heels ofthe flanges 91 to avoid displacement of the flanges toward one anotherunder extreme thrust load imparted to the bracket 95 by the associatedadjustment and thrust pin or bolt 81 or 81', as the case may be. Anaperture I90 through the com pression block 99 is coaxially aligned withan: aperture IOI in the web of the thrust bracket 95 to clear thethreaded outer end portion 94 of-the bolt freely therethrough.

Adjustment and retention of each of the bolts 81 and 87' with respect tothe bracket 95 is effected by means of a thrust nut I02 and a lock nutI03 threaded on the outer threaded end portion 94 within the thrustbracket 95, and a retaining nut I06 threaded on that part of thethreaded por-- tion 94 which projects out through the bracket apertureIOI. Thus, to effect proper hammer guiding adjustment of the guidemember or track 93, the bolt nuts I02, I03 and I06 are appropriatelymanipulated for each of the bolts 81' and 81 to attain the preciseadjustment desired with respect to the hammer to be guided. A particularadvantage of this form of adjustment resides in the fact that all needfor shims between the guide track member and a wedge bar for wearadjustment or the like is entirely eliminated and rela- 'bolt' apertureH2 at the outer face of the side;

tively acute adjustment in this respect is attainable through the mediumof the adjustment and retaining thrust bolts 81 and 81'.

Back and forth or sidewise movement of the track or guide member 83 issubstantially eliminated by relatively close sliding flt between theside faces 85 and the bearing pads 86 of the side plates of theguide-supporting structure. The up and down movements of the guidemember 83 resulting from reciprocations of the hammer usually present amore serious problem, but are effectively prevented in the presentconstruction by the provision of respective upper and lower lookingwedges I04 which are interposed between the respective upper and lowerends of the guide member 83 and the upper and lower plates and 8| of theguide supporting structure. purpose each of the wedge blocks I04 has ahorizontal flat surface I05 which engages with a hori zontal offsetbearing pad I01 on the opposing face of the respective upper and lowerplates 89 and 8|. For engaging the guide member 83 wedgingly, each ofthe wedge blocks 84 is formed with an oblique bearing face I88 opposingthe respective end of the guide member which for this purpose is formedwith a complementary oblique bearing end face I09 at each end.

A wedge rod or belt I I0 extends from the back of each of the wedgeblocks I08 through an appropriate aperture III in the back plate I9andon through the interior of the frame assembly with the outer endportion of the bolt extending through an aperture H2 in the outer sidewall plate 10 and with such end portion threaded as indicated at II3 toreceive a' tightening nut I I4 which bears against a thrust boss II5 forthe uppermost of the bolts and a thrust boss II! for the lower of thebolts welded about the respective For this 'welded members. importantand valuable relationship of various 7 wall plate 10. Thus, adjustmentof the guide member 83 is first efiected by appropriate ma: nip'ulationof the adjustment and retaining bolts 81 and 81' while the wedge blocksI04 are loose. Then, the wedge blocks 104 are drawn tight be.- tween.the ends of the guide member 83 and the respective upper and lowerguide-supporting frame plates 80 and 81, by tightening the nuts H4. Thiseffectively locks the guide member 83 against vertical movement ineither direction. This also saves the bolts 81 and 81 from strains towhich they might be subjected in the operation of the hammer by possiblemovements of the guide member 83 in a vertical direction. Thisarrangement also saves the bolts 81 and 81' from any tug stresses sinceby the action of the wedge blocks I04 the bolts 8'! and 81' are placedunder longitudinal compression which is effectively re.- sisted by thethrust brackets 95. Hence the bolts 81 and 81' are saved from the usualshear and tracted farenough to clear the hammer or ram 23' entirely tofacilitate placement and removal ofthe latter. For this purpose thethickness of the guide member 83 is so proportioned relative to thedepth of the pocket or housing provided by the supporting structure thatthere is enough space between the back face of the guide member and theback plate 19 to accommodate ramclearing retraction of the guide member.As a result, in order to remove the ram all that need be ,done is todisconnect the piston rod therefrom,

push it out of the ram, loosen and retract the guides 83, and the ram isthen clear for removal. Replacement involves merely the reversal I ofthese steps. With the conventional wedge bar type of adjustment for theguide track members it was necessary to remove the steam gland head,remove the piston rod out through the cylinder and raise the ram abovethe guides for removal. Furthermore, where it was necessary to shim orline the adjustment wedge behind the guides to take care of wear, it wasnecessary to remove the ram entirely to gain access behind the guides.By the present invention any such adjustment is effected quickly andeasily from the sides of the frame and without disturbing the ram.

Permissible symbolism indicative of welding has been deliberatelyomitted from the present drawings, since welding is a well understoodexpedient, and its efiects in affording a homogeneous, solid well knitunitary assembly of the By the present invention an elements in hammerframes has been attained whereby the welded construction of suchhammerframes is made practical and thus eliminates the heavy; overlymassive and yet relatively unreliable castings that have heretofore beendeemed essential. In addition, of course, other valuable improvementshave been taught by the present'disclosure as is evident from theforegoindcscription. I

i The present application is acontinuationinpart army c'opendingapplication Serial No.

. 8 522,927, filed February 8, 1944, and W abandoned.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon other wise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a hammer frame construction, a unitary assembly ofindividual steel plates comprising spaced coextensive side plates, anouter plate, and longitudinally separated upper and lower inner plates,all Welded together into a solid unitary member of tubular cross sec--'tion, and a hammer guide supporting structure comprising an elongatedbox-like assembly of individual steel plates of heavier gauge than saidside and inner plates and welded into a unitary structure, said guidesupporting structure being set into and supported by the inner edges ofthe side plates between said inner plates and being welded into unitaryassembly with such plates.

2. In a drop hammer frame construction a unitary assembly of steelplates comprising spaced apart coextensive side plates, a substantiallycoextensive outer plate, and relatively short upper and lower innerplates, the plates being welded together into a unit of box-like crosssection, and a hammer guide supporting structure set into the inneredges of the side plates between said inner plates and intimately weldedto the side and inner plates, said guide-supporting structure includinga relatively massive head structure having wedge rod and adjusting nutrecesses.

3. In a drop hammer frame unit, a welded tubular assembly of generallyupright plates providing a tubular column of generally angular crosssection, an opening in one face of said column comprising angular cutouts in the two plates forming opposite sides of the column, and arelatively massive box-like guide supporting frame comprising sideplates, a back plate and top and bottom plates of heavier gauge thansaid side plates and welded together into an angular unitary assembly,said guide-supporting frame being set into said opening and permanentlywelded therein to form with the column a unitary structure.

4'. In a drop hammer frame construction, a columnar assembly of verticalplates including an outer plate, side plates and upper and lower innerplate sections, a top'plate and a bottom plate, all of the plates beingwelded together into a unitary assembly of angular tubular cross sectionand with the adjacent edges of the upper and lower inner plates spacedapart, and a separately formed guide-supporting frame having Wallssubstantially thicker than said side and inner plates received betweensaid spaced edges and welded permanently to the side plates and to saidupper and lower inner plate sections.

5. In a drop hammer frame construction, a columnar assembly of verticalplates including an outer. plate, side plates and upper and lower innerplate sections, a top plate and a bottom plate, all of the plates beingwelded together into a unitary assembly of angular tubular cross sectionand with the adjacent edges of the upper and lower inner plates spacedapart, a separately formed guide-supporting frame received between saidspaced edges and welded permanently to the side plates-and to said upperand-lowerinner plate sections, and reinforcing gussetplates welded tothe guide-supporting frame and the side plates at the inside of thehammer frame column.

6. In combination in a drop hammer frame construction, vertical back andside plates and upper and lower inner plate sections, said plates beingwelded together into a column of angular cross section and tapering fromthe top to the bottom of the column, a bottom plate to which lower backand side plates and the lower inner plate section are welded, a topplate to which the upper edges of the back and side plates and the upperedge of the upper inner plate section are welded, a hammerguide-supporting frame set;

into the column between the opposing edges of said inner plate sectionsand welded permanently in place in the column, said bottom plate beingsubstantially wider than the spacing between the bottom edges of theside plates and said lower inner plate section being of downwardlyflaring outline and thus affording a strong support for the bottom ofthe hammer frame guidesupporting structure.

7. In combination in a columnar drop hammer frame structure, back sideand inner plates assembled into an angular column and having their upperedges in generally the same plane, a top plate disposed in a horizontalplane and welded to the upper edges of the first mentioned plates 8. Incombination in a hammer frame construction of the character described,means defining a columnar frame body, said frame body having a recesstherein opening from the inner side thereof, and a hammer frame guidemounted therein, said hammer frame guide comprising relatively heavygauge spaced steel side plates, 2. back plate disposed edgewise betweenthe inner margins of the side plates, a bottom plate disposed betweenthe bottom margins of the side plates and below the bottom edge of theback plate, and a top plate disposed between the upper margins of theside plates and on the upper edge of the back plate, all of said platesbeing permanently welded together into a unitary assembly and theassembly being welded into unitary assembly within said opening in saidframe body. 9. In combination in a hammer frame construction of thecharacter described, means delining a columnar frame body, said framebody having a recess therein opening from the inner side thereof, and ahammer frame guide mounted therein, said hammer frame guide comprisingrelatively heavy gauge spaced steel side plates, a back plate disposededgewise between the inner margins of the side plates, a bottom platedisposed between the bottom margins of the side plates and below thebottom edge of the back plate, a top plate disposed between the uppermargins of the side plates and on the upper edge of the back plate, allof said plates being permanently welded together into a unitary assemblyand the assembly being welded into unitary assembly within said openingin said frame body, and reinforcing angle plates welded in thrustrelationship to said back plate and the inner faces of the side walls ofthe frame body.

10. In combination in a hammer frame construction of the characterdescribed, a columnar tubular frame body having a recess opening to theinner side thereof, andv a box-like hammer guide supporting structuremounted in said recess and fixedly secured therein, the guide structureincluding spaced vertical walls and top and bottom walls, all of saidwalls having offset accurately machined bearing surface pads and saidtop and bottom walls having opposing offset bearing pad surfaces, a backplate also having an offset bearing pad surface, the areas of all ofsaid walls of said back plate adjacent the junctures of the respectivewalls and said back plate being inset whereby to facilitate welding ofsaid walls and back plate into a unitary assembly without affecting saidbearing pad surfaces.

11. In combination in a hammer frame construction, a frame body havingan inner side and an opposite outerwside, a hammer guidesupportingstructure providing an angular pocket opening to the inner side of theframe and closed from the outer side of the frame body by a back on saidstructure, a hammer guide member slidably retractably mounted in saidpocket, and means comprising members extending from said guide memberthrough the back of the guidesupporting structure and accessible fromthe outer side of the frame for retractional and protractionaladjustment of the guide member, said adjustment means comprisingadjustment bolts secured to the guide member and having thrust shoulderengagement with the back of the guide member.

12. In combination in a drop hammer guide frame, a frame body havinginner and outer sides, a hammer guide-supporting structure on said innerside of the frame body and having a guide pocketv defined by a back, ahammer guide member mounted in said pocket, thrust bolts extending fromsaid guide member through said back of the supporting structure, andthrust brackets at the outer side of the frame to which said bolts areattached in outwardly thrusting relation to resist hammer imposedoutward thrust on the hammer guide member.

13. In combination in a drop hammer guide frame, a frame bodyincludingan outer wall and an inner side, said outer wall having an inner sidefacing toward the inner side of the frame, a hammer guide-supportingstructure at the inner side of the frame having a guide pocket andhaving a back facing toward said inner side of said outer wall, a hammerguide member a mounted in said pocket, thrust bolts extending from saidguide member through said back of the supporting structure, and thrustbrackets at the outer wall of the frame to which brackets said bolts areattached, said brackets being of generally U-shape and having thrustflanges engaging at the inner side of the outer wall of the frame.

14. In combination in a drop hammer guide frame, a frame body includingan outer wall and an inner side, said outer wall having an inner sidefacing toward the opposing surface of the inner side of the frame, ahammer guide-supporting structure at the inner side of the frame havinga guide pocket and having a back opposing the inner side of said outerWall, a hammer guide member mounted in said pocket, thrust boltsextending from said guide member through said back of the supportingstructure, thrust brackets at the outer wall of the frame havingrespective body portions to which said bolts are attached, said bodyportions of the brackets being of generally U-shape and having thrustwall of the frame, said flanges having heel portions at juncture withthe bracket body portions,

and compression blocks secured between the heel portions of saidflanges.

15. In combination in a hammer frame construction, a frame body havinginner and outer sides, a hammer guide supporting structure at the innerside of the frame and providing a guide pocket, a hammer guideadjustably mounted in said pocket, thrust bolts extending from saidguide member to the outer side of the frame, a thrust bracket for eachof said bolts on the outer side of the frame and having a bolt-engagedapertured portion spaced rearwardly from the frame, the outer endportion of each of the bolts being threaded and extending through theapertured portion of its bracket, and adjustment and retaining and locknuts on said threaded portion cooperating in thrust relation with therespective opposite sides'of the bracket portion.

16. In combination in a hammer 'fram'e construction of the characterdescribed, a 'frame member having an outer side wall and an inner sidestructure including a guide pocket, a guide member slidably inwardly andoutwardly in said pocket} a bolt carried by said guide 'member in inwardand outward thrust relationship and extending outwardly through saidframe structure. said outer side Wall having an aperture therein, theouter end portion of said bolt pr ejecting through said aperture, and athrust bracket secured in said aperture and projecting outwardlythereb'eyond and having a thrust portion connected to the outer endportion 'of said bolt through the medium of attachment nuts carriedthreadedly by said outer end portion of the bolt, said bracket affordingan access opening between said thrust portion and said outer side wall.

17. In combination in a hammer frame construction of the characterdescribed, a pair of spaced vertically extending front and rear plates,an outer side plate, an inner side structure including a hammer guideframe and a vertical plate below said hammer guide frame, a top platesecured on top of said outer side and front and back plates, and abottom plate secured to the lower edges of said front and back platesand said outer side plate and said lower inner side plate, said frontand rear plates being inset relative to the upper and lower edges of therear plate and the upper and lower plates extending forwardly andrearwardly beyond the front and rear plates and having bolt holestherethrou'gh for reception of bolts to attach the frame constructiontotop and base members of a drop hammer installation.

ROY A. KROPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 442,898 Kennedy Dec. 16, 18901,398,610 Tibbels Nov. 29, 1921 1,404,150 Smith Jan. 17, 1922 1,405,799Paul Feb. 7, 1922 1,910,534 Glasner May 23, 1933 1,960,166 Rode et al.May 22, 1934 2,084,066 Rode et al June 15, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 1,106 Great Britain 1866 18,6'l4 Great Britain of 1905

